Constructing an Al3+/Zn2+-Based Solid Electrolyte Interphase to Enable Extraordinarily Stable Al3+-Based Electrochromic Devices

Shichen Weng; Zhenhu Cao; Kunrun Song; Wentao Chen; Ran Jiang; Alexandr Alexandrovich Rogachev; Maxim Anatolievich Yarmolenko; Jumei Zhou; Hongliang Zhang

doi:10.1021/acsami.4c00303

Constructing an Al³⁺/Zn²⁺-Based Solid Electrolyte Interphase to Enable Extraordinarily Stable Al³⁺-Based Electrochromic Devices

ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2024 Apr 10;16(14):18164-18172. doi: 10.1021/acsami.4c00303. Epub 2024 Apr 1.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Maritime and Transportation, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China.
² Laboratory of Advanced Nano Materials and Devices, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo 315201, China.
³ Ningbo Mi Ruo Electronic Technology Co. LTD, Ningbo 315203, China.
⁴ Optical Anisotropic Films Laboratory, Institute of Chemistry of New Materials of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, Minsk 220141, Belarus.
⁵ Francisk Skorina Gomel State University, 104, Sovetskaya Street, Gomel 246019, Belarus.

PMID: 38556998
DOI: 10.1021/acsami.4c00303

Abstract

The interface between the electrochromic (EC) electrode and ionic conductor is crucial for high-performance and extraordinarily stable EC devices (ECDs). Herein, the effect of the ALD-AZO interfacial layer on the performance of the WO₃ thin film was examined, revealing that an introduction of the ALD-AZO interfacial layer to the Al³⁺-based complementary ECDs can lead to improved EC performance and stability, such as an extraordinary cyclability of more than 20,000 cycles, an outstanding coloration efficiency of 109.69 cm² C^-1, and a maximum transmittance modulation of 63.44%@633 nm. The probable explanation is that the introduced ALD-AZO interfacial layer can effectively regulate the band gap of WO₃, promote the electron transport process, and induce the formation of a robust solid electrolyte interphase to protect the electrode during cycling. These findings offer valuable insights for enhancing the EC performance of the EC thin films and new space for the construction of advanced multivalent Al³⁺-based ECDs.

Keywords: atomic layer deposition; electrochromism; multivalent ions; solid electrolyte interphase; tungsten oxide.